Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-12-01
RAILROAD LANDS.

| 10 those OF our clulZenS who have
purchased lands of the L. p r. r..
company, in Thomas and adjoiaing
counties, the following extracts of the
Uniled States statute. enacted in the
second session of the 18th Congress,
may be interesting:
THAT the Secretary of the Interior
be, and is hereby authorized and di
rected to Immediately adjust, in ac-
cOrdance with the decisions of the Su-
preme Court, each of toe railroad land
grants made by Congress to aid in the
construction of railroads and hereto
fore unadjusted.
Sec 2. That if it shall appearupon
the application of such adjustments,
or sooner, that lands have been, from
any cause, heretofore enormously GER
titled or patented by the United States,
to, or for the use of any company
claiming by, through or under grant
from the United States, to aid i'm the
construction of a railroad. it shall be
the duty of the Secretary of the Int
rior to thereupon demand from such
company REIMBURSEMENT or recon-
veyance to the United States of all
such lands, whether within granted or
indemnity limits.
Sec 3. That if, in the adjustment
of said grants, it shall appear that
homestead or presumption entry of
any bona fida settler has been errone-
ously cancelled on account of any
railroad grant, or the withdrawal of
any public lands from market. such
settler, upon application, shall be re-
instated in all his rights and allowed
to perfect his entry by complying with
the public land laws.
Sec t. That, as to all lands, except
those mentioned in the foregoing sec
ton. which have been so enormously
certified or patented as aforesaid
and which have been sold by the
grantee company to citizens or the
United States, or to persons who have
declared their intention to become
such citizens, the person or persons so
purchasing in good faith, his heirs,
or assigns shall be entitled to the
land so purchased, upon making
proof of the fact of such purchase at
the proper land Office,
after the grants respectively shall
have been adjusted; patent of the
United States shall issue therefor, \
and the Secretary of the Interi-
or on behalf of the United States shall
demand payment from the company
which has SO disposed of such lands
of an amount equal to the government
price of similar lands.
Sec 5. That where any said COM
pany shall have sold to citizens of the |
United States, or to persons who have
declared their intentions of becoming |
such citizens, as part of It's grant,
lands not conveyed to or for the use
of such company, said land being the
numbered sections prescribed in the
grant, ard being co-terminus with the
constructed parts of said road; and
where the lands so sold are, for any
reason, excepted from the operation
OF the grant to said company, it shall
be lawful for the bona fide purchaser
thereof from said company to make
demand of the United States for said
lands at the ordinary government
price for like lands, and thereupon
patent shall issue therefor to the said
bona fide purchaser, his heirs or as
signs: PROVIDED, that all lands shall
be excepted from the provisions of
this section, which at the date of such
sales were in the bona fide occupation
of adverse claimants under the pre-
or homestead laws of the
United States, and whose claims and
occupation have not since been volun-